The Six Keys

Pokemon Part One

As soon as I arrived, I couldn't see anything. There was a fog covering everything. I could hear music playing somewhere nearby, but I couldn't make out the words. Holding my arms out in front of me, I started making my way towards the music, and I noticed my arms were half bare. I stopped walking and stared down at myself.

My clothes had automatically changed to fit the anime. I guess finding the first key restored some of the abyss' magic. My arms were covered in black elbow length fingerless gloves. The dress I was wearing was uncomfortable, the first one I've ever worn with a cage. The skirt looked like a big tutu, and its color scheme matched the rest of the dress and the small bolero on my shoulders. My legs were covered with black wool leggings and black boots. There was also a big white bow in my hair.

I smiled, actually okay with what I was wearing, then continued towards the music.

"Ready for battle!" A female's voice sang. "Brave and bold!"

I released a big growl, gripping my hair. "No no no!" I screamed angrily. "Pokemon?! Are you kidding me?!" I shook my fist at the sky dramatically. "What's my challenge here, not age in twenty years?!"

I continued stomping and cursing, getting it all out of my system. I finally finished, gasping for air. Only then did I realize the theme song had stopped, and Ash, Iris, and Cilan were gaping at me with horrified expressions.

"Such language..." Iris muttered, clutching Axew protectively.

"Sorry!" I yelped, nervously rocking as they made their way towards me. Pikachu bounced over, sniffing my leg.

"He's wondering where your Pokemon are," Ash explained. "So eager to make new friends. Bring them out so they can play while we talk."

"I don't have any," I said shyly. "I've never even seen a Pokemon with my own eyes before." I kneeled down, petting Pikachu.

"Interesting," Cilan said, tapping his chin. "Where are you from? Who are you exactly?"

"Don't be so quick to question her!" Iris said. "Look at her. No Pokemon even. We should take her to Lacunosa with us!" Axew exclaimed in agreement. "I like your hair bow by the way," Iris added, taking me by the arm.

The fog cleared up after a while, revealing brilliant fields. I witnessed groups of Pidove flying in the clouds and Lillipups playing in the grass.

It wasn't long before we came to Lacunosa. Not much of a town, having a population of only sixteen. The town was surrounded by concrete walls, but there was a gap for us to get into. There were a few buildings and the paths were made of stone. Cilan was giving me random facts about the town, despite me never engaging in a conversation at all.

"In fact," he was saying. "The walls were built to keep out Kyurem."

I almost died laughing. "But they leave a gap to let people in and out?"

Cilan looked a bit discouraged. "Well, yes," he stammered. "but Kyurem is quite big..."

"Can't Kyurem fly?" I asked, getting teary-eyed from laughter at this point.

Cilan became extremely flustered, and for the first time since we arrived, he shut up.

"Because the town is so small," Iris said. "We stay in the Pokemon Center." She gestured towards a big building. We went inside and recieved an automatic greeting from Nurse Joy.

"Nurse Joy is here, too?" I asked.

"Of course!" Iris said, setting Axew down. "She's in every Pokemon Center!"

I almost fell over laughing again. "Ah, anime logic," I sighed, wiping away tears. They all blankly stared at me before taking me to the back.

"You can share the room with me," Iris said, taking a seat next to Axew on the bed. I nodded gratefully.

"Everyone is preparing for the World Tournament," Cilan said, standing in the doorway. "Including us. Speaking of which, I say it's time we get you your first Pokemon!"

They brought me to the desk, requesting Professor Juniper, who appeared instantly.

"This young lady needs a Pokemon," Iris explained. I looked at her funny, certain I was older than her.

"How wonderful!" Professor Juniper chimed. "Here are your choices!" She laid out three Pokeballs, which opened up to reveal Tepig, Oshawatt, and Snivy. "Each of them have their strengths," the professor said. "And each of them-"

"Snivy," I interrupted, picking Snivy up. Everyone stared at me for a moment.

"Are you sure?" Cilan asked. "You didn't even think about it."

"Snivy is the cutest," I said.

"Been there before," Iris sighed.

Snivy was really stand-offish. He wiggled, wanting me to put him down. Ash put him back into the Pokeball.

"We should go back out so you and Snivy can get to know each other," he said, handing the Pokeball to me. "But first, let's get something to eat. I'm starving!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu squeaked in agreement.

"You guys do know that you're eating Pokemon, right?" I asked, tagging along behind them.

"We don't like to think about it," Iris said, still smiling.

"No one does," I said, realizing just how stupid everyone was, as if a wall protecting them from a flying Pokemon wasn't evidence enough. "But you have to remember that Pokemon have feelings. Do you eat them when they die of old age, or do you just have slaughterhouses?"

They all stopped and stared at me.

"I'm not hungry," Iris said softly, pursing her lips.

"I can surprisingly say the same," Ash sighed. "Let's get to training."

"Winning the tournament is obviously how I get the key," I thought, trying to figure out how to make the Pokeball shrink. "How the hell do I do it? I don't know the first thing about Pokemon!" I gave up on the ball, stuffing the whole thing into my pocket.

We stopped in a field, taking a seat in the grass. Our Pokemon were released and given Berries to munch on. Snivy walked away with his Berries, sitting by himself.

"So what's your name?" Iris asked.

"Lillianna," I said, blushing and avoiding eye contact. "I'm here on a very important mission."

"So ambitious, kinda like this little kid," Iris giggled, flicking Ash's head.

We continued talking, not getting any training done. The sun was setting, and Snivy was still in the grass alone, watching the other Pokemon play. I took a seat next to him, despite not understanding what Pokemon are saying. I didn't expect him to say much anyway.

"Hey, Snivy," I said. "Why are you mad at me? Is it because I called you cute?" He kept staring ahead. "Well," I continued. "You're kinda cool. So small but so tough. And someday you'll be more powerful than you can imagine." He turned his back to me. I sighed, sniffling. "Look, Snivy," I said to him. "We're a team now. We have to work together. I'm scared, and clueless, and really far from home, and for right now, I depend on you." He turned his head and stared at me. "And hey, in a couple of days, you'll never have to see me again!" He jumped up, seeming happy about that. I laughed. "But until then," I said, petting him. "We have to train our little hearts out, okay?"

"Snivy," he replied.

"Good," I said, smiling at him. "Let's go."

We all met up again, but Cilan and Iris were tired and headed back to town. Ash stayed behind to help me train.

Snivy did an okay job executing his moves, but his defense was awful. Everything Pikachu threw at him hit him hard. Snivy wanted a break, laying his scuffed up little body in the grass.

"It's late," Ash said. "The people of Lacunosa insist that we be inside when it's dark."

Being afraid of the dark, I agreed. I followed Ash, holding Snivy close as he slept in my arms.